Direction indicator



Dec. 4,, 1928.

H. E. ELROD DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed June 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZZZVOQZ I auouwqa 1 BRA K E Dec. 4, 1928.

H. E. ELROD DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed June 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet gmnto'c 1 2 6115 Z: EZ

Patented bee. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES HENRY E., ELROD, OI SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Application filed June 10, 1926. Serial No. 115,085.

This invention relates to a combined direction indicator and sound producer for automobiles or other vehicles, and has for its object to produce a device of this class 6 which will be exceedingly simple and cheap to manufacture, yet eflicient in operation.

A further object'is to produce a device of this character in which the mechanism for actuating the indicating arm also produces the noise, so that the driver will be immediately notified if the indicator ceases to work, and so that the attention of drivers of other vehicles will be called to the signal.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in

which Fig. 1 indicator shows the direction I, mounted on the rear end of an automobile,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the direction indicator,

Fig. 3 is a front view thereof,

Figs. 4 and 5 are side and front views respectively of a modified form of the device, parts beingbroken away,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of a further modification with parts broken away, and

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the device comprises a casing 1 from the front of which projects the horn 2,

the front of the casing having an opening 3 corresponding to-the internal diameter of the horn. A spider 4 extends across the opening, and at the center of the spider is one bearing 5 for the shaft 6 of an electric motor, the other bearing-7 being mounted on the back of the casing. The armature and field windings of the motor are indicated at 8 and 9 respectively.

On the shaft 6 in front of the armature is loosely mounted one end of a direction indicating arm 10, the other end of the arm projecting out through a slot 11 in the bottom of the casing. The slot permits rotation of the arm on the shaft out to a horizontal position in either direction. A rowel 12 is fixed to the shaft 6 adjacent the bearing of the arm 10. A spring 13 has its end bent into the form of an eye 14 and'secured to the arm' 10 by pin 15. The spring 13 is held against rotation on pin 15- by the staple or pins 16, so that the spring and arm 56 are confined to move together. The free end of the spring projects into the path of j the direction, of rotation of the motor. When the arm reaches horizontal position it will strike the end of the slot 11 and be stopped, but the rowel will continue to rotate, its teeth causing the end of the springto vibrate, thus producing a noise to call attention of the drivers of other vehicles to the direction indicator. The device is provided with a suitable bracket 17 for mount-- ing on some convenient part of an'automobile.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the device in combination with a light 20 and red lens 21 on which the word Stop is printed. The horn 2 has a semi-circular slot 23 covered by the transparent member 24 through which the rays of light pass to illuminate the pointer 10 in any of its 3 positions. I

Fig; 6 shows an additional noise producer that may be used with the device consisting of a bell 25 mounted on the born 2, and knockers 26 on the end of a flexible member 27 mounted on they extended end 28 of shaft 6.

Fig. 7 shows a wiring diagram whichmay be used with the direction indicator. A and F are respectively the armature and field of the motor. Current is supplied by a battery B, and the motor may be caused to rotate in either direction'desired by pressing either button L or R, which may be mounted I on the steering wheel of the automobile as shown in Fig. 1. The stop light 20 will be lighted by depression of either button L or R, or by closing the customary foot-brake switch S.

loosely mounted onsaid shaft, an impositive connection between said shaft and said pointer, and stops to stop] the pointer in .a

orizontal position .in eit or direction, said impositive connection comprising means for producing an audible signal upon continued rotation of said shaft when the pointer is stopped in either horizontal position.

2. A signalling device for automobiles comprising a shaft, means under the control of the driver for rotating said shaft in either direction, a pointer loosely mounted on said shaft and normally in a vertical position, a rowel rigid with said shaft, a spring secured to said pointer and having a free end projecting into the path of the teeth of said rowel and adapted to cause the pointer to rotate with the shaft, and stops for preventing rotation of the pointer beyond a horizontal position in either direction, whereby when the pointer is stopped the rowel Will cause the free end of the spring to vibrate and produce a noise.

3. A signalling device for automobiles comprising a casing, an electric motor having a shaft mounted in said casing, a slot in said casing, a pointer loosely mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said slot, said slot permitting rotation of said pointer to a horizontal position in either direction,

a rowel rigid with said shaft, a spring secured to said pointer and having a free end projecting into the path of the teeth of said rowel, and means under the cont-rol ofthe driver for causing said motor to rotate in either direction, whereby the motor shaft will first turn the pointer to horizontal position in either direction, and the teeth of the rowel will then, be rotatedpast the free end of the spring, causing the same to vibrate and produce a noise.

4. A signalling device for automobiles comprising a casing, an electric motor hava shaft mounted in said casing, a slot in said casing, a pointer loosely mounted on said shaft and projecting through said slot, said slot permitting rotation of said pointer to a horizontal position in either direction, a rowel fixed to said shaft, a spring secured to said pointer and having a free end projecting into the path of the teeth of said rowel, an electric light on said casing, a source of electric current, circuits including said source of electric current, and said light, and switch means controlling, said circuits for causing rotation of said motor in either direction.

In testimony whereof the foregoing specification is signed.

HENRY E. ELROD. 

